Despacio’s mission is to keep doing what it has been doing for the past decade: consistently exploring new models of artistic and curatorial practice while remaining a driving force in the continued development of Central America’s artistic voice.

Studio Visit: Pablo Cianca

Cianca knows things about the cameras of the past. Since beginning his university studies he has focused on film; more in-depth explorations over the course of his studies led to an interest for other ways of filming and creating that moved beyond fiction, and he was led to documentaries. Finding old video cameras in his grandmother's house was a good start. A TV and a collection of videotapes to go through. He began working with home movies, naturally drawn to memory.

Thoughts

Thoughts

His project is focused on bringing back the aesthetic of home movies, with a nod to Hito Steyerl and her essay on poor images, those that “show the rare, the obvious, and the unbelievable—that is, if we can still manage to decipher it.” It reflects on the possibilities of format and the replication of that aesthetic not only with the intention of collecting the videos but of bringing his process closer to the art of the film essay, freeing it. Beginning with the format led to the rest, a small hand-held camera that goes unnoticed by the other, at the same time experimenting with current technology everything learned from amateur film.

His goal and long-term project also revolves around this recovery of visual memory; with its point of departure anchored in the process he began with his family, its reach can be broadened so that others can access the documentation of their own memories in this format.

His workspace is filled with collections of zines, videos, rolls of film, and records. Cianca also enjoys animation and taking pictures.

Information

Information

Pablo Cianca was born in San José in 1994, he lives and works in Guadalupe, Costa Rica. Learn more about Cianca on Instagram or Facebook, or contact him by e-mail.

The artist is part of the residency program La última which starts on May 2018.